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Peanut Butter Cheesecake

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Because it’s Monday and because I’m going to temporarily forget about the button incident.  We’re going to roll with a Peanut Butter Cheesecake.

 

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Full Disclosure:  I was not going to post this cheesecake because I didn’t like the way the photos turned out.   But Jennifer was all up in my grill with “where is the cheesecake” business and strong-armed convinced me to share.


It really was delicious – like a giant peanut butter cup.   Unlike the first one I made which was terrible.  So I tweaked it a bit.  More importantly, I didn’t forget about it, leave it in the oven to become dried out, and end up with the texture of sawdust.  Oops.

 

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I was in a hurry with this one because we were going to a family cookout, so I manhandled it more than I should have.  Given the way the first one turned out I wanted to test this before exposing anyone to a culinary disaster.  After moving it around a bunch it developed some cracks on the top, so I jammed a fork down in there and dug out a bite. Thank goodness it was delicious and I covered up the damage with some Chocolate Ganache.  Again – full disclosure. I’m just trying to be honest here and keep things legit.

Happy Monday, ya’ll!

 

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Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 2 1/4 cups graham crumbs
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
  • 10 tablespoons butter melted

For the Cheesecake

  • 5 8 ounce blocks cream cheese
  • 1 2/3 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
  • 1 cup peanut butter - I used Reese's
  • 6 eggs

For the Ganache

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Put cream cheese in bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium-low until fluffy, 3-4 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile make crust.
  3. Combine graham crumbs, sugar, cocoa, and melted butter. Press into bottom and up sides of a spring form pan. Wrap 2 pieces of heavy aluminum foil around pan and set aside
  4. Sift sugar and flour together and add to cream cheese a little bit at a time while mixing on medium low.
  5. Add vanilla bean paste and peanut butter, mix on medium-low until combined
  6. Add eggs one at a time, incorporating each before the next addition
  7. Tap mixer bowl with batter in it on counter a couple of times and set aside for 20 - 30 minutes.This allows the air bubbles to come up and prevent cracking
  8. While batter rests, preheat oven to 350
  9. Pour batter into prepared spring form pan. Set spring form pan into a large roasting pan and fill with boiling water about halfway up sides of spring form pan.
  10. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes
  11. Reduce heat to 325 and bake an additional 45 minutes
  12. Turn off oven, crack door, and leave in oven another 30 minutes
  13. Remove from oven, let cool completely and chill in refrigerator overnight
  14. Heat cream in a small sauce pant until steamy, pour over chocolate chips and stir until melted and combined
  15. Spread over top of the cheesecake (unlike my photos - chill again for the ganache to set - about 30 minutes to 1 hour or more)

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Comments

  4. Heather - Butter & Burlap

    This is my first time to your site and I’m so impressed by the recipes and the photos! I’ve never tried peanut butter cheesecake but I’m certain I must change that immediately. Glad I stopped by, great recipe!

    Reply

    • rachelle

      Hi Heather! Thank you so much for stopping by and for you kind compliments! Peanut butter anything makes me happy! 🙂

      Reply

    • rachelle

      Erin, believe me when I tell you that you want nothing to do with the first one – peanut butter or not! 🙂

      Reply

  10. Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates

    There is nothing better than cheesecake…unless its peanut butter flavored of course. I’m hooked. Need a piece stat!

    Reply

  11. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary

    I giant peanut butter cup in Cheesecake form?!? Heaven on earth! My skirt just flew up with excitement… figuratively, because I’m wearing shorts lol. This looks fantastic, girl! And seriously, thank the Lord for kitchen mishaps because chocolate ganache on top?! Yes. Now. Uhhh huh! Gimme a slice! Pronto!
    P.s. I love your honesty.. if anyone tries to say they haven’t made a few billion mistakes in the kitchen they are full of it! Cheers, chickie ♡

    Reply

    • rachelle

      LOL Cheyanne! I’m glad only your figurative skit flew up! The one thing you will find a lot of over here is honesty! I’m just trying to keep things real. And after that sawdust situation, there was no way this cheesecake was leaving this house without a fork full going in my mouth. Thank goodness for chocolate ganache! Cheers, friend!

      Reply

    • rachelle

      Thanks Kathy! I will definitely be having salads and it’s a good thing I took it somewhere to be shared or I would have eaten the whole thing myself! There would have been buttons everywhere!

      Reply

    • rachelle

      Ami, I totally know the feeling! I have had some serious culinary disasters, but this one was a success – thank goodness!

      Reply

  14. Manali @ CookWithManali

    Rachelle, you must always share peanut butter recipes. ALWAYS! even if you don’t like the way pictures turned out..that’s a rule in food blogging 😀 The cheesecake looks delicious! I want to dig in right away!

    Reply

    • rachelle

      Manali, thanks for schooling me on the rules. I will never have peanut butter secrets again! 🙂

      Reply

  15. Medha @ Whisk & Shout

    Wow, today is the day for peanut butter cheesecake on the blogosphere, and let me tell you, each version is totally unique and looks totally delish! Yours is no exception. I love all your peanut butter recipes and the pics look lovely 🙂

    Reply

    • rachelle

      Wow! How did I miss all the peanut butter action out there? I say you can never have too much peanut butter or cheesecakes!

      Reply

  19. David @ Spiced

    I have no idea how a cheesecake with chocolate and peanut butter could turn out anything but good! I think you are lying and just hit that first cheesecake in your closet so that you could snack on it at your leisure. Please tell me I am right! And these photos look great…give yourself more credit here! 🙂

    Reply

    • rachelle

      BUSTED! I confess, David! I’m totally hiding in my closet and hoarding that cake! And thanks for your kind words. We are always our own worst critic, right? I’m lucky to have Jennifer to bully me when I need it! 🙂

      Reply

  22. Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel

    I don’t even care what this cheesecake looks like (although I think it looks really, really good) because it sounds just AMAZING! Helloooo peanut butter and chocolate! It doesn’t really get any better than that.

    Reply

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